This is not just a LJ...

21 hours, 59 minutes

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:04:24 GMT

Well it's nearly here. After a wobble (worrying) on Easter Sunday itself, am here and poised. Much calming/sleeping done and to do.

Still remember exact situation (+shower) exactly this time last year - the benzo after that awful last drive up. But hey, is it different? NC putatively planned for Wed night, and travels on Thurs. Will be interested to see if Garden House works!

Peterborough tomorrow - cinema (+2nd time CRI interview) - we shall see what happens w/J.

First drive due Wed morning down - then meeting D lunchtime-ish.

Exciting times!

14 days

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:27:33 GMT

Uneventful, sleepy day today.

Sorted out car insurance (eventually) forced to go with bell again, (£1k later), though, interestingly found out that March 08 'incident' wasn't my fault :D - and that 2 years NCB is still on file. Not that it made much difference, turned down 600 quote from Kwik-fit on account of this...

Lots of grief w/M sorting this out, but at least it's all 'above board' and legit now. Still, all paid for. Should receive another 500 bung.

Weekend quiet and fooking drunk. Organ finally back Sunday so winged it. Have literally never been so knackered, but journey down OK. A17 is a killer though - must try it once?

HH friday - ring CW about bow? (silly timing)...

Purchased bunny on impulse(!) @ walton. Wow, silly buy of the week/year - or was it? Everyone loving it, very cute - £60 outlay for me, £30 for J. But isn't it cute! Must text AA eventually...

18 days

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 02:13:35 GMT

This time exactly a year ago, I did something *very* silly indeed. Too many memories/shit/recriminations/etc later, it was a bad idea. Let's not do it again, eh?

And let's not fuck up things for the last 2 and a half weeks.

Leeds tonight with PG/EA/AA. Good (though somewhat trite) opera singing, good chinese (provided) afterwards. Opera hopefully sorted for beginning of next term :)

Car now fixed :D - need to sort out 'Cambridge Curse' tomorrow, but above all, *keep everyone happy*. At least until well after Easter.

With any luck *touches wood*, last god-awful 142 bus experience this morning, thank fuck. Again, let's keep it that way!

33 days

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:54:36 GMT

Haircut today at 'Ye Old Barber Shoppe'. Plus face mask, and generally civilised shopping/cooking/wine etc.

Last haircut until Apr 15th (when I will head down to that lovely place in Cherry Hinton) - or will I? News today that car is fucked - apparently fuel pump is playing up big style. Dee$ of croydon are quoting £1k+ - told D that it wouuld probably be cheaper to use the £1k he would have spent, plus £4k barclays ISA, + trade-in to get a new (2 year old) one. We, as ever, shall see.

But am keeping that Barclays one specifically 'instant access' for obv reasons. ARCO written gone back in - cambridge course accepted - waiting game now. Barely a month to get through.

Must buy Vierne I !

54 days (just)

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:06:45 GMT

Had an interesting couple of days. Sitting atm in Lansdowne yard, bit cold, but nice G+T :)

Cambridge yesterday, popped into careers service which does actually seem more welcoming than it outwardly looked. Pity I had to miss out on the CV/session (because of next week) but will make sure to sort something out for Easter. Saw NB (no change) - various derisory things about choir no doubt, but had a nice-ish bottle of claret at Hotel du Vin. Went to see RR for about 30 mins - seems quite drained, but *can't wait* until car so I can restart vaults nights again etc. Consequently v. pissed, so driving back fell asleep, and had to be put to bed.

Today up to the W dentist, fairly perfunctory tooth-ripping-out - glad it wasn't me. Then on to Lynn, good lunch with J's mum, saw PG - and the erstwhile mother! Bought a couple of things, then dropped of at the station. Ruined by some pompous twat in ticket office, there's no need for sarcastic little hitlers! consequently told him to fuck off, got police called - but escaped down to Downham (via lift) for free! What a twat...

So, down to London tonight and met up with SS at Kings' X - had a couple of bottles at Lansdowne with her two mates (one ex-Classics, minging - one other, quite fit :p). Was told in no uncertain terms that I wouldn't get in to 'exclusive' guestlist so came back here - only to get phone call that no-one got in and that the whole queue is freezing their collective arses off. How ironic! Again, reminder (if ever I needed one) how completely vacuous London 'clubbing' is. Was just asked to go back, but am being principled(!) and might as well just rock up back home, fuck it!

8 weeks.

65 days

Sat, 07 Feb 2009 23:39:30 GMT

...300 gone. Getting there.

More voice trials today so no 'all-day' lie-in. Usual crap, sitting there nicely suited, just having a chat to hormonal mothers/the odd pseudo-rah father from N Yorks. Interesting people-watching, if nothing else. And then a v bizarre couple, bit 'edgy', 'alternative'? Don't know how well that went down.

Evensong a shambles with Wesley's Ascribe particularly foul. Everyone slunk home in disgust, methinks. Another sat. night in so fuck all to do (particularly with EA in 24/7). Will have to 'learn' Franck PFV tomorrow evening/monday...*fuck*. Probably monday, by the look of it.

Didn't get drome, 'more's the pity' - but did I really want it? Prestigious/fun, yes, but could I have hacked the saturday/sunday *complete* lack of w/e? Possibly not. Leaving all options until half-term, will try and make appointment with Cam Careers Service/look out for possible forays abroad - US/Aus/NZ etc. Might even get something with ONS...but if I do ditch music, need to get property *asap*. Even if shitty bedsit etc, really need to move.

I'm sure this will feel a bit better come April 15th - places to go, people to see, FREEDOM - but until then, will be under usual barrage of nagging/worrying/moaning.

1560 hours. Roll on.

72 days

Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:56:35 GMT

Eventful few days/couple of weeks.

Have been flying up and down the country like a fooking yo-yo, with one thing or the other. Stressful and brief hunt visit (first since that memorable morning) - though on the topic had flyer through from huntsman offering 'free material' on house tweed? Might ring when everything's a bit calmer.

Went home for the practical exam the other day (home being better than expected) - the exam was interesting. Pieces probably fouled up, but the tests should have gone OK. Interesting (modern) church round the back of peckham rye (road) and the posh girls' school (sure I knew someone from there once). While at Chris', and trying to fuck about installing XP on macbook, whole HD crashed (again) so in tense mood! Luckily, for once, and despite dire internet predictions, Time Capsule proved to be worth its weight in gold and speedily restored everything exactly as at 7th Jan - brilliant.

Met SS fleetingly, went to champagne bar in St. Pancras, which I'd always wanted to do, for some reason, then back up.

In between non-charged NXEC train back up today and connection, legged it down to Banks' music shop, which is only 3 minutes silly-walk from Y station. Replaced Book III, got the tocatta+fugues book II (at last), and a bound edition of the dupre preludes - better late than never, and, £70 later (barclaycard) somewhat pricey.

Met TM at thi, saw (very nice, modern) flat - all mod cons - slightly reminds me, however of surreptitious visits to a similar place round the back of Chislehurst not too many years ago. Hmm. Modern flats --> sleaze ---> 'cash in hand'?

Drome(!!) interview tuesday. Anti-climax (massive?) or actually ironic culmination of the past 14 years? We, as ever, shall see.

1st Feb - have fleeting suspicion that driving license will re-arrive on April Fools' Day...

86 days

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:09:13 GMT

well...another Saturday night in.

Massive (another) upset with AB - don't really give a shit any more, tbh. He can just fuck off, as can the oh-so-keen EA. So have resolved, whatever the outcome of the 'little chat' (tbc) to just fuck all. Posters up tuesday night and then just rock up. As JJ says, *question* everything - there's nothing realistically he can do (especially given last year's 'precedent')

Seeing how that all goes, am giving serious thought to actually giving the whole WC idea a tentative shot (depending on how busy i am, pieces etc.) Must check deadline for that, especially after B's encouragement - divine providence, perhaps? Sure to get references from TL /PG/further afield if necessary.

But we shall see, as ever. But I am *never* being talked to like that, ever again - an opinion which will be strongly expressed when I finally catch up with the little cunt...

In any case, seriously need to start jobhunting, asap.

95 days

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:11:44 GMT

In Cambridge spoons atm. Had coffee with LB after funny chance meeting at King's X the other night, which was good fun actually. Apparently everyone things that I perpetrated my name as 'Neville B' on the photo as a joke.

RR not in vaults, so left it until tomorrow.

Early morning and slow drive down via Welney (the old route). Still can't imagine how I coped with all of the various health risks and stress last year. Just feel a bit run down and worried atm. The Xmas-period 'running about' and lack of down time has left me physically and emotionally drained.

Voice still not that much improved, so am 'resting' it.

ARCO written the other day was fairly amusing. Bumped into Max B, had lunch (seemed as laughably unprepared as I was) and met the inimitable DH! Texted TL with glee. The papers themselves seemed OK (apart from not knowing a thing about how to write counterpoint) - we, as ever, shall see. Bullshitted throughout, especially with the joke of 'French Classical'.

Cambridge seems melancholy - do miss it slightly though would have needed a *major* change in attitude to do anything about it. Should have got PH to let me do Management.

Mum's birthday today, so half price voucher at Lansdowne, then 109?

103 days - New Year, and counting

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:45:23 GMT

Another new year seen in. Still that vague sense of disappointment when the clock strkes 12 - at least with one's birthday (as much as that means these days) - there's the whole day to see out. With new year, it seems as if all the anticipation, hype and expectations is focused into a countdown of 10 seconds.

Well we had the champers and fireworks (usual moaning) and usual nagging upstairs. Non-event, I'm still ill and knackered.

This coming week or so (until 11/12th) will be v. busy - especially with exam, M's birthday, seeing how this w/e will work out - I assume it's still on for Harrogate - will be fucking pissed off if I turn up and there's a cock-up tbh. Still, funeral confirmed by L this morning, so will def have to do that, if nothing else.

Not long now though!

105 days

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:21:29 GMT

sitting in 109, feeling quite relaxed and crucially not hung over.
Throat slightly, though only slightly, improving.

Chris got all the old crew round last nite, EP, LS, JC - the whole lot. MG is up the duff, which was perhaps the most eventful news, but quite sweet. We all got the tower tandoori set meals, which went down a treat, and are still sitting on table.

Feeling a lot calmer. Still not entirely happy about having to bounce through ARCO written on the 8th - but should be OK. Have learnt lessons from previous years and am definitely *not* staying around down here to go for some overpriced, cold, disappointing, NY party. Much better to spend it quietly up w/JJ.

Days are definitely counting down now. The only 'depended on' events now seem to be ARCO, mum's birthday and that's it. Poss Easter Sunday, but with 48 hours left, who cares?

Will attempt to clear up here, then into Bromley. Apparently B coming tonight, but will head back round here.

112 days

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 00:39:15 GMT

I suppose it's sort of a Christmas ritual now, tuning into Love actually at Christmas time and feeling thoroughly miserable - in this case as i'm in the north, sans car, sore throat and a hellishly stressful couple of days to come...

knowing that there isn't some great party or nice event to go to...another year gone still not knowing what the fuck I want from life...still, as I've said before, give me scraping through the exams any day!

114 days

Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:06:11 GMT

shortest day due today. Not that I noticed much - sore throat from friday night manifested into tickly croak today. Taking evensong was interesting, but went very well tbh.

Went into town, to boots, got vicks and lemsip - to shoe shop and got J a nice radley bag (£60 later - on 'savings' barclay account) so guilt sutiably assuaged. Sainsburys for provisions - more lightbulbs - there must be something wrong with this wiring - then home.

Smoked salmon hadn't gone off so had some - bath, then bed. All very uneventful.

Today brings the carol service from hell @ monkton - reading between the lines, my (rather rude tbh) getting out of that dinner for Paul's one didn't go down too well. Still, taxi there, issue invoice, get out sharpish etc...

Must get everyone cards. Found D's book, will top up with something nice and odd from the strange booze shop.

115 days

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:50:39 GMT

All not too bad. Horrible bi-annual cold/flu afflicted (and nearly gone) - though not helped by having to croak my way through evensong tonight. Still, another £50 (claiming for yesterday too!) can't be sniffed(!) at...

The whole J thing seems to have stabilised somewhat after last Wednesday's 'Great Escape' - time down there this week full of cuddles and tears, tbh. Even the 143 via sharow wasn't that bad, small-ish bus, comfy seats, 1 hr 5.

Not much to do tbh - am saving money as best as poss.

Interesting day in p'boro the other day - ventured into the pboro WW for *last* time now - nothing really there - it's all a bit sad, really. Headed over to the Cathedral for Evensong - not a bit how I remembered it U-stylee (new pews post-fire and everything) - and listened to girls' voices evensong. Nice, but out of tune. Some fairly dour junior OS - why didn't I go for a 'local' job? AR of course didn't come over. Then to John Lewis' - surprisingly good - then to the beehive pub where I'd been all that time before. Brought the vexed, panicy 07/08 A2 memories back alright. Spoke to NB, who I had a missed call off, for the first time 'properly' since the Denmark debacle. Seems OK actually - choir is 'boring' yet EW-smug - will have to head down 'properly' post-April.

m+d due up 24th and down to W on boxing, god willing. Putative contact with Chris 28/29 - don't really think I can be arsed for another 'tethered' NY. Then of course the whole charade starts again - just over 3 months until freedom after Easter. Can't wait.

127 days

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 09:47:30 GMT

fucking livid tbh with blatant rudeness from AB - if this carries on, will give serious consideration to resignation after christmas or at easter. Still considering what to do re. Thurs - probs will take a later train anyway. Am incredibly fed up with being treated like a piece of shit.

In other news - good (tho slightly pricey) w/e up here w/J+fam.
Am seeing madness from monkton in a bit - then fuck all.

need to sort out ARCO pieces - might do that this afternoon.

mental note - start jobhunting

135 days

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:10:30 GMT

more J problems today. Just 135 days to go until I can reclaim anything needed, and be *free* again!

Especially pertinent today. Woke up early (due to radio - don't turn it on tonight!) and spent whole day laying around, doing nothing. ARCO dates arrived, that will be the next big test after the 'interesting' (characterful) recital on Thursday. Went and had (expensive and brief) haircut and just feel a bit fat really. Should have saved it for 'Ye Olde Barber Shoppe'. Whole day spent in 'anticipation' of 5.30 - turns out to be 4/6 depped, crap, waste of time, 'what the fuck am I doing here'.

M+D looking forward to nice Xmas no doubt - but plan, (economy depending) is for car--->job--->flat. *then* will I be happy? doubt it. But the complete lack of any sort of life up here, exacerbated by lack of car led to a thoroughly boring and frustrating day. Not of course, helped by antics tonight.

And - woohoo - 3-service sunday tomorrow. WTF am I doing?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

142 days

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 21:49:36 GMT

Arm mostly fixed now - just the odd twinge - probably one of those awful things (having missed hospital appointment of course) that 'ail' you through your life. I can see myself here in 10 years time with gout/athritis/something awful still with a fucked elbow.

Have settled down into the routine now a bit more. The next (big) test is the recital on thursday - which has the potential to go badly wrong - will actually try and nail the St Anne prelude and all else should go OK - apart from that fucking Christ unser Herr...

Very conscious of the seconds/minutes/days ticking by now. 'Get past Xmas' is the theme of the day - but of course post-TL could be a bit tricky. We shall, as ever, see. Hope EA isn't all too keen and everything, well certainly not too arsey. will be interesting to see how AB deals with it all.

Felt in a bit of an almanack/crystal ball mood today.

So...predictions

Election: Either Tories/Labour to win with *miniscule* majority - 15/16. Can't see a hung parliament - but if it happened, no doubt the LDs would be ganging up with Labour quicker than you could say 'proportional representation'. Tories might have to pair with possibly resurgent SNP? Still, so long as the IHT thing (eventually) gets passed, I'm past caring tbh.

Economy/housing: Don't know really. I can see a 'British' bounce in opportunistic 'entrepeneurs' making a big buck out of this all - but there does seem to be this inevitable drag towards centrally-planned socialism atm. Thank fuck i have a deposit (if not outright) - if the 'mortgage drought' (which allegedly started this) is to believed, there should still be rich pickings. (That's if I know what the fuck I want to do with myself!) My guess is personal insolvencies/IVAs/bankruptcies/at least the overall level of personal debt will collectively skyrocket. At the best, Britain will make it through 1/maybe 2 economic cycles - at worst (which is what I really fear) we're fucked - massive run on/deprecation of the pound sterling, hyperinflation, etc.

Anything for an easy life :p

165 days

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:27:12 GMT

arm basically fixed (touch wood)

came back up here on tues night after a fairly mundane trip down to london, tbh. JD deleted me on account of my 'statement of love' - fuck her - just one more reason why facebook is basically the root of all evils and privacy settings should be restricted, harshly.

V. nice day today though (cold!) - went over to Ely after quick trip to Beirut. Finally went to Chop House's 'sister' restaurant - pretty much identical food (relief) and was good and cozy to have lunch, apart from apalling service. But then chanced upon with JJ this *amazing* antique shop, left with about £180 of stuff (in total) - including coach horn! amazing piece of kit, very much cheered me up.

The year is receding v. fast (in inverse proportion to my gut, but not to Chris' hair). Oct wasn't that bad (though boring as hell for the most part up in R). Cam visit tomorrow - will no doubt pop into catz to check things out, then just hope RR is in for a nice afternoon @ vaults. Then, promise of Haloween party, so another visit to March...

under half way to go now!!! :)

arrgh

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 01:29:09 GMT

still can't play the sodding organ, arm/wrist is in agony. will have to go back to quack if this doesn't improve and get some stronger painkillers/more dicloflex. but this, and just when JJ is coming up for a couple of days? not great, at all.

just completely butchered the U-era c major prelude, just can't do it at all. deeply depressing. no more booze tonight as have to be up for dour diary meeting - just shitloads of the remaining painkillers will have to do.

176 days.

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:12:16 GMT

189 days to go.

Bit of a mess tbh - J left last night (having been picked up) - the less said the better about all of that. Thoroughly ashamed/hungry/despondent.

Had A+P round last night for pizza+drinks, so cheered up a bit. Fell asleep on sofa (typical) and haven't done *anything* this morning.

Broadcast wednesday - more services to be played for and general work to do. So will actually get off my arse and *do* something. Bit of lunch and bath first would be great.

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:41:48 GMT

something very frustrating tonight. cathedral a bit more spooky than usual - chav sitting, drunk on the steps. And I just couldn't get that bit of the bach right! Well I did go in at midnight...after some several G+Ts. Lesson to self - don't go to practice practically pissed, with a tricky piece, on an organ you don't really know.

And JJ's car blowing up - all not good. A bit of a case of '13th' - always a bit unlucky.

Not much else really - no money spent today - too much gin, wedding, evensong...and a 9.25 start. Still, it's all cool.

Might dig into that bottle of perigrino to sober myself up.

Tomorrow - proper 'cooked'-ish lunch. Shopping list.

212 days.

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 19:46:04 GMT

Sitting in some crappy little bar right next to London Bridge station, which seems to think that it's a wine bar - but ends up, complete with laminate flooring and dodgy sofas, feeling rather more like a nameless SU bar - though not at student prices, for sure.

Pizza express after coming back from 109 last night - good stuff - and spent the afternoon sorting stuff out back at home. Only realised when getting lift to Grove Park that it was probably the last time I would see home before Christmas...we shall, as ever, see.

Talked to CN on offchance on facebook earlier - he chatted back and we had a good natter. Then I got his new mob number and had a hilarious chat for c.90 minutes - upshot of which is that I have arranged to go over to Oakham/U Wednesday night - if he doesn't forget. But it was still brilliant to talk, makes you remember what good friends you had. Even he seemed wistful-ish, reminiscing about U6th etc...

Back on 9.15 tonight, with any luck. Have made huge list of things for D to bring up - probably best for us all to link up @ Ripon itself, or at least some nameless service station up the A1...

But this september brings change, as septembers should, I suppose. Must ring Ripon tomorrow, as well as S&S, if my £7k hasn't materialised.

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:14:12 GMT

Well I got up (earlier than J) this morning and did the rather torturous journey, via Cambridge, to Ipswich. 2 hours, nearly.

Not helped by complete and utter fuckwit at Downham, maintaining that the fucking *carpark* counted as 'station premises' and 'his workspace' - consequently, of *course* no-one could smoke there. This did, of course, not go down to well with the multitudes (well 3) of us at 6.27 on a Friday morning - suffice to say that the pathetic little jobsworth got told exactly where to shove his fucking 'workplace'. Tit.

The course was...*interesting* - hosted by some old Estuary bloke who looked something like the lovechild of a sex-offender and Mr. D from WC. A few laughs, but especially in the afternoon the whole thing made me profoundly depressed about the whole driving thing. Why bother? Just emigrate - seems an easier option.

Crushing head/footache due to walk back in new shoes - just leapt on train via March, seeing as I seem to have flushed my return train ticket down the disabled toilet this morning.

However, this typing/listening to Itunes thingy whilst on train is curiously therapeutic. Feel like a depressed, fat old alcoholic though. Not too far from the truth then.

Couldn't even be arsed to go to vaults, far too depressing. Will just retreat, try not to drink, and take a sleeping pill. Great friday night, or not.

236 days

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:53:48 GMT

...and talking of which, have (finally) got round to booking the fucking drinky-drivers course. Naturally, this being me, the nearest pre-Ripon completion (3 consecutive Fridays, not days...) is in Ipswich, of all places. Starting tomorrow morning. Which all means that I have to get the fucking 06.47 to cambridge, then that *awful* shitty little service to ipswich from there. All with, no doubt, lots of aggro about 16-25 railcard/lack of eligibility thereof, and presumably a last-minute panic. Oh, and Ipswich's collective wankers assembled for 7 hours. Joy, oh joy. Might give the newt a ring, or else stop off for *at least* a few Friday-night drinks@vaults.

Apart from that, all has been busy-ish. Incompetence manifold @ Ripon (am I cursed with this for the rest of my life?) where they've got no clue if it'll be finished by the 6th (which gives me 2 fucking days to sort myself out) - and that "...oh you know, projects of this length can over-run". So, in other words, I'll turn up 200+ miles and have nowhere to fucking stay, in all probability. Shades of catz/dom WANKERY there.

Jo taken rampantly (mentally) ill hasn't helped - doctors/psychiatrists abound - month off work/general lethargy. Only good thing perhaps is surplus of benzodiazepenes around the place, but even they are in short supply.

Saw LY last night, off the cuff apres RAC dinner w/D (v. good as well). She at least eating semi-properly, went to some (actually v.nice) wine bar almost exactly above(!) the BoE where she spent fucking ages choosing some arsey £40 bottle of wine. Seems to be coping OK, wild delusions that she is some sort of NY-pornstar-cum-independent career-woman. "Oh, back in York", that sort of thing. And she has ended up renting a room(!) in a somewhat grotty flat in Wapping, of all places, in which I dossed down last night - no doubt pissing off JD massively by not turning up. But something definitely fishy going on there - she say only £350 take-home? hmm...

Have promised dinner next week, as well as ER - NEXT TUESDAY - in iCal!

Saw Chris, back from the dead - apparently had been down in hors-Kent after yet *another* balls-up w/MA. But turned up in Bromley today, after lunch w/M (+£90 free shopping) and generally whinged. Purchased £35 netgear router (finally) so wireless unsociability now installed@109. Saw E, LS+milan3r as well (+seemingly underage boys in LS's 'posse'?).

Am writing this consequently on 10.15 to Downham, but in a display of typical Network Rail incompetence, this is terminating @ Ely, with fucking bus for the rest, wankers.

want license back, etc, etc.

Only good news is that G'ma is finally, so it seems, realising intimations of her own mortality and partaking in some elaborate tax dodge via the trust, ending both K and D (me, we hope) with £100k. No doubt can somehow winkle another £40 out of them, which, with everything else (housing crash) considered, *could* mean a v. nice £180 flat in SE1/16.

But I *hate* this lack of freedom, and being beholden to people, movement-wise. Tonight a case in point.

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 00:19:25 GMT

got up here Thurs night after Bucks' + Athaneum dinners. All bit expensive, maybe allayed by £6.75 purchase @ mind shop in west wickham! First time there, and turned out to be VH's friend near St. Joseph's. Chris seems to be OK-ish.

NW ISA *finally* opened - so that should be around £13.5 which should finally show up on online thingy. Apparently another dongle a la Barclays arrived today - whopee.

No progress Friday as funeral @ Lynn - Monday must ring Ripon and have a full list of things that need to be sorted out. Course must be done too if 247 days is the target.

The amount of wine (not me) being consumed here is somewhat sickening, tbh - but isn't pissing me off any more. Will be 'oop narf in (literally) 3 weeks so can survive any how until then. (It's always great, as I have learnt, to have some 'externally imposed' deadline).

Never mind. Money not going too bad (apart from v. expensive london dinner-trip and AWFUL march/chat faf)